The weekend is almost upon us and anyone hoping the weather will improve will be bitterly disappointed.

Rain will still be persistent from Thursday through the weekend while temperatures will be cooler than mid week.

Today will be quite a wet day with a few periods of dry weather in between.

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A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will become more persistent across Ulster, Connacht and more northern parts of Leinster during the morning, but generally dry elsewhere for the first half of the day.

"The rain will develop more widely during the afternoon and evening. Highs of 16 or 17 degrees in fresh southwest winds.

"Generally cloudy on Friday with further rain at times. Highs of 15 or 16 degrees."

As we move into the weekend there will be no improvement in the weather with plenty of rain.

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The forecaster added: "Saturday will be a cool and blustery day with heavy showers, becoming more widespread through the day.

(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)

"Northwesterly winds will be strong and gusty and highest temperatures will be around 15 or 16 degrees.

"Sunday will be a cloudy day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, persistent at times across the north and west of the country during the morning and then the rain becoming more widespread in the afternoon and evening.

"Highs of 14 to 18 degrees in fresh southwest winds.

"Monday will be cool and blustery again with widespread showers. Northwesterly winds will be strong and gusty. Highs of 14 to 17 degrees."